Well this is my first post, hopefully I dont get flamed for not using the Search button.

My question is, is the STi or the extra 7k worth it over just a WRX.

I was planning on buying a STi in the next few months, but if a WRX in the long run is a better deal I can buy that in the next week.

I do want to race with it, however, I know next to nothing about cars. I can hardly change the oil, its very sad. I want to change all that though.

I am going to be looking around and reading everyones threads to try to start understanding everything. I have already read the Impreza FAQs thread. I already learned a few things.

Sorry for my nubish questions

Trey

Flame: Use the search feature! ;)

Also, check out Subaru's website.

The added features the STI has over the WRX makes it a better option if you plan to use it for any sort of racing, the LSD coupled with better brakes, tyres and a ton of other options make the STI a great race platform.

I could go on, but won't, hopefull kfoote will come along as he can explain so much better than I :)

the STI is the big boys car, id say start off with something a little less powerful.

the thing that really makes it clear, you say you know little about cars, but you plan to race?

you can allways modify a car to be "fast as" or "fast-er" than an STI.

just keep in mind, the more powerful the car, the more skilled you have to be or you could break you car not knowing what you are doing.

I know you can always make a car faster but like freakray said "STi is a great race platform"
On top of that I feel I am a pretty good driver, and the only way I could get more skilled is to drive a car that requires more skill.

I may not race very much or ever for the matter.

I would just like a high performance car and a really nice one at that.

Wont be long before I know a good amount about cars, I just have to read and what not.

Get the WRX. Trust me, if you "don't know much about cars" by your own admission, there's WAY more that you don't know than you think you don't know. That was confusing. My point is, you know even less than you think you know, trust me. That is not to be a put-down on you, it's just a learning process. The STi is a beast. It's faster than the WRX, sure, but you'll never be able to use it to its potential until you've discovered the limits of lesser cars.

Here's the deal: you take that '86 Integra to a bunch of autocrosses while you're saving up for your WRX. Learn the limits of the Integra, mechanically and physically, at the same time learning your own limits as a driver.
Then, buy your WRX. You'll be so happy with it that you'll want an STi. Take it to a bunch of autocrosses. Then you'll realize you couldn't have used an STi even if you'd had one. Then, a few years from now, buy the STi and smoke everybody because you actually know what you're doing.
My point: buy the STi, but just not right now. Save it for later. Use the $7,000 you saved to buy a racecar from the junkyard for the local dirt track or to buy a Miata to use as an autocross car. Experience, then power.

Since I was requested to chime in here ;) ...


Street story:
Basically, if you're into all-out performance, the STi is a better value (taking just the price of the transmission and brakes, you're over $9k), however it is a much more difficult car to drive than the WRX is. The WRX is a much easier car to learn on. Some of the wierd handling characteristics that the 04 STi's have have theoretically been fixed on the '05's, but my best guess is that it will make it easier to drive but hurt overall performance. If you're not going to be racing, and have never done a High performance Driving Ed (HPDE) event, then the WRX will be plenty good. The reason I bought the car had nothing to do with the extra power. If all the drivetrain, sospension, and brake goodies had been on the car but it had the non-turbo 2.5, I still would have bought the car (had a 99 2.5 RS prior to the STi), but only because I feel comfortable driving a car that requires constant attention if it means better response in emergency situations.

Track story:
The STi is definitely NOT the car to learn on. It's wierd handling characteristics, some of which are different than any other AWD car, doesn't carry over very well to any other car. When I get in a car for a track session, I make a conscious decision of what kind of car I'm in and what my emergency reaction set should be. Being a HPDE instructor, I have found myself driving many different cars, and can basically put the emergency reactions into 4 groups: FWD, RWD, AWD, and STi.

I'll agree with SabreKhan and say buy the WRX for the street and take the extra $$$ and buy a Miata for auto-X/HPDE. Generally when learning how to drive on track, having less power will result in developing fewer bad habits that can be masked by having the extra power.

The WRX is still a perfectly good car for Auto-X/HPDE, just make sure you upgrade the brake pads and pay attention to the brakes if you're going to be doing HPDE.

I ran 103 laps in a 3-hr enduro at the road course at NHIS (my home track, 20+ track days there) in my Miata and there are still places where I feel like I could be faster because of my driving. I have run the STi there for about 15 laps, and feel like I was nowhere even in the ballpark of the limits of the car...and with the STi COMPLETELY stock (stock suspension, stock tires, stock brake pads, and was 5 sec/lap faster than the Miata (Hoosier DOT track tires, best stock suspension, full roll cage, full racing brake pads, SCCA minimum weight 2430 with driver).

Cliff notes: Don't buy the STi as a track car or if you are expecting to get an easy to drive commuter car, but the STi is a better value than the WRX for all that you get.

Im sorry but start off with something less powerful... Im not trying to put you down its just that you may think you are an ok driver but an STi is basically a showroom stock race car... Its a whole new world of driving even for an experienced racer. I have a 2000 RS GC body style, I have driven a GD WRX and and STi and all three cars have different characteristics... i built my RS for All out handling... The WRX was stock and the STi was stock but Id say start off with the WRX and understand AWD instead of jumping in and crashing an STI. Thats all I need to say... There are too many people that think they can handle the STi and it ends up totaled in a ditch somewhere and its sad... My 2 cents

Amen and Amen

Alright, so now I am looking into a WRX Sport Wagon.

Where is a good site with aftermarket parts for WRXs? ie Exhaust, Suspension, Cosmetic etc etc?

just a few:
www.nasioc.com
www.i-club.com
www.club-wrx.net